Higher Buildings Policy Review - 2026/2027

[Feathered Friend]

The City of Vancouver is reviewing the Higher Buildings Policy. This policy was adopted in 1997 to provide guidance for downtown’s tallest buildings.

A review of the Higher Buildings Policy will look at how updates to this policy can help advance key City objectives, including more community benefits and implementation of the approved Granville Street Plan.

Feedback will inform draft policy updates or options, which would be brought forward for additional public input before being presented to City Council. The City will provide updates on potential next steps, including additional phases of public engagement as the work progresses.

There are many ways you can get involved:
Visit a pop-up event: From March 31st to April 29th, City staff will hold drop-in events at various outdoor locations where you can learn more about this project, speak with staff, and share your ideas for your preferred future skyline.

A few dates are proceeding rain or shine:
Queen Elizabeth Park (at “The Photo Session” sculpture): Sunday, April 26, 1-4 pm
Crab Park(External link): Monday, April 27, 4-7 pm
Jericho Beach Viewpoint: Tuesday, April 28, 4-7 pm
Queen Elizabeth Park (at “The Photo Session” sculpture): Wednesday, April 29, 4-7 pm

Visit the Vancouver Lookout Exhibit: From May 1 to May 10, come to the observation deck of Vancouver Lookout to explore our exhibit on higher buildings and share your feedback while enjoying a 360° bird’s eye view of downtown. The exhibit will explore the history of Vancouver’s tallest buildings and factors to consider as we update our policy to tap into future opportunities.
Free access for BC residents on:
Sunday, May 3, 2-6pm
Wednesday, May 6, 6-9pm
Saturday, May 9, 2-6pm

Learn more and share feedback online: Materials from in-person events will be available online, along with a survey beginning May 1. Check back here regularly or sign up to our email list for updates!

Next steps
Your feedback will inform the policy approaches that will be shared with the public as part of engagement in early 2027.

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/higher-buildings

[jollyburger]

The summary document was posted

Public Views Policy updates (2024) opened new areas where height may be possible. Protected public views will be maintained and will not be reviewed as part of this work

• The Granville Street Plan (2025) directed staff to explore opportunities for taller buildings in the City Centre

This review is not about any specific application. It explores broader questions of where greater height might be appropriate, and what kinds of public benefits are important.

• How tall buildings affect the skyline and the street level
• Where additional height might make sense or not?
• What public benefits should come with extra height?
• What a “made‑for‑Vancouver” approach look like?

Shape a design brief for an international ideas competition to gather ideas on how to best deliver taller buildings in Vancouver (launching June 1)

https://syc.vancouver.ca/projects/higher-buildings/summary-of-exhibit-english.pdf

And you can fill out the survey as well.

https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/higher-buildings

[jollyburger]

DH article on the Vancouver Lookout exhibit for the review



https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-lookout-city-higher-buildings-policy-review-exhibit

[Glow Fun City]

Q&A: Vancouver’s chief planner on push to allow taller buildings downtown
Chief Planner Josh White said there are opportunities to thoughtfully introduce higher heights into Vancouver's downtown

https://www.biv.com/news/qa-vancouvers-c...r-buildings-downtown-josh-white-12257252

The City of Vancouver has launched a public feedback exercise that seeks input on the planning department’s move to update an existing policy that currently allows for taller buildings downtown.

The central question is this: How much higher should buildings be allowed to be built downtown?

That question is one Business in Vancouver posed to Josh White, the city’s chief planner, in a recent interview on his department’s push to update the current Higher Buildings Policy, which was last reviewed in 2011.

[logan5]

Downtown Vancouver looks proportionally too short compared to the North Shore mountains (looking from QE Park perspective). If we are trying to create a good balance of cityscape to mountain scape, you would allow towers to perspectively go halfway up the mountains. With Grouse and Seymour both being around 1200 meters tall, you could have towers 300 meters plus to reach that ratio. The roofline of Vancouver's tallest tower, Shangri-La, sits at around the 300 meter mark of the North Shore mountains, so there is plenty of room to go taller.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by logan5

Downtown Vancouver looks proportionally too short compared to the North Shore mountains (looking from QE Park perspective). If we are trying to create a good balance of cityscape to mountain scape, you would allow towers to perspectively go halfway up the mountains. With Grouse and Seymour both being around 1200 meters tall, you could have towers 300 meters plus to reach that ratio. The roofline of Vancouver's tallest tower, Shangri-La, sits at around the 300 meter mark of the North Shore mountains, so there is plenty of room to go taller.

If anything development along Broadway will shadow the downtown towers. I mean from one of the tallest points in the city the view is pretty bad except for that mountain ridge view.

They should build a 150 foot observation tower up there.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Rooftop restaurant at South Granville or bust.

[urbanight93]

Someone at work mentioned that there was so much interest in this open house that over 200 people had to be turned away.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by urbanight93

Someone at work mentioned that there was so much interest in this open house that over 200 people had to be turned away.

More likely just wanted to go to the observation deck for free

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

More likely just wanted to go to the observation deck for free

Lol that's why I went. Never been up there before

[urbanight93]

In which case I hope that this location drew out a higher proportion of the silent majority that is supportive of higher buildings. Typically it’s the ones who have a bone to pick who show up to public engagement events… so fingers crossed this policy review lead to a more exciting skyline and opportunities for taller, more architecturally striking buildings

[Vantage]

Pretty much all the comments I read on Facebook had a very negative opinion on higher buildings in Vancouver. Some were advocating for no high-rises at all. It's total lunacy.

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by Vantage

Pretty much all the comments I read on Facebook had a very negative opinion on higher buildings in Vancouver. Some were advocating for no high-rises at all. It's total lunacy.

Well, there's your answer. Facebook people are algorithmically primed to be angry and oppositional.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Facebook's also raging against Alto on the other side of the country. It's largely Karens, bots and gullible seniors at this point.

[Glow Fun City]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Facebook's also raging against Alto on the other side of the country. It's largely Karens, bots and gullible seniors at this point.

I've been off Facebook and Instagram for 9 months now and feel much better… I just spend more time on here instead